Electric controlling means.



H. W. LEONARD, DECD. sfuolmrp.I Annmlsrunmx. y ELEcmc conmouma Menus. f

`Arrucn|on FILED oc. 1211915;

Patented May 6,1919. 2v 13 r yzsnsns-skncn @MM l mum admin-:l .nlllh a I' 'r Y vm: mums rims ai., ruamumo., wnsngnnmm n. c.

lH. W. LEONARD, DEC'D.

' n c. Aa.. LEQ'NAIID, AoIIINIsTIIATRIx.

ELEICTHIC CONTROLLING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED ocr. I2. 1915;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3e sa J4 df/WJJQWM N l x Patented May 6;1919..`

portion 12 freely and has threaded engagement with thef;y bleekl 21 fixed to the spring 18. It is apparent'tliatftrrgithegrportion 12 about the pivot 13. This resultsv in a definite sliding of the contact 15 over the contact 17 by reason'of the finger 1l. moving about the pivot 13 and the armature 12 'movinga'bout the pvot 1'1. As the armature i-s further attracted this sliding action continues with increased pressure until finally the bridge 16 engages the back of the finger andl firmly holds the contact 15 against the contact 17. When the magnetism of the magnet is sufficiently decreased so that the force nof the spring :18 overcomes thc magnetic attraction, the armature 12 will be forced away from the olle piece 7 andthe bridge 16 will release t e finger 14. As the movement of 1the armature from thepolc p-iecelcontinues the contact l15 will slide ou the contact 17 by reason of the above described relationshipof parts until the armature portion 12 engages the inner face of the finger 14, Wh-ichwill then result in the contact'flnforcibly-and quickly breaking contact,4 the ari'nvature giving the 'finger a ham- 1nei' `bloWL for separating the contacts. This quick andA definite breaking of the circuit at the contacts necessarily results in minimizing the arcing =or tendency to arc. Likewise the slidingof lthe Contact 15 across the face of the contact 17 during the engage` ment and disenga ement of the contacts results in keeping `'t e contact faces in good condition, avoidinor pitting ornroughening ofthe/contacts Whic still further assists in -minimiz,ing the 'sparkingv and. insecnring a d efir'iiteA closing and Opening "ofI they circuit.,

In la reyersed ,location to thelabove. de-

armatureiis another armature 22,

Lpivota'lly mounted'by ttheflexilole strip 23 similiar to thestgljip lliand fixed to asup.

Peri .24 at the :naht-.hand endet the meg? net. This arn'iat'ure has, inclined outer portion 22". supported from an :innenportion 22, andis also. proyided with a-.sprmg-18,

12',adjustmentscrew 2Q andibllock 21` correSPQndingfo the similarlynumbered parte abevedesrbede ,Ql .e cater. in@ 0f the inclined portion22 of ,-t -e armature and at `its 'loyVerend Bis riietedi a :finger having 'tW QOH-tests. 254964.11116 cani/act 25 being carried by' ,the portion 'fthe ,finger jand themes@ beneserrie te efreeiveof the finfger as shown i'ii 'Fig'. The finver is in the orm of' a flat spring, its tension eing such that the outer end of the portion l28, which passes under'the bridge 29 on the armature 22.', normallypresses againstl thel underside of the bridge. Similarly, the finger portion -27 passe-s under the bridge 2) near its outer end and thc spring tension tends to normally hold the same agninst thc inner or under side of the bridge. The contacts 25, 26 lare adapted to engage fixed contacts 30, 31. 4

When the magnet is not sufficiently energized to attract the armature portion 22', thc sprinr, 18 forces the armature out wai-diy, tie contacts 25, 2o engaging the fixed contacts y30, 31 and the pressure exerted by the spring 18 is such that the-face of the armature portion 22 presses against the` finger portions 27, 28. When the magnet attracts the armature 22, the armature por'- tion 22 approaches the pole 7 and during the initial movement the contacts 25, 2li remain in engagen'ient with the fixed contacts. and the underside of the bridge 22 moves toward the fingers. During this action. however, there is a sliding movement of the contacts 25, 2G, over the faie of the'ixed contacts by reason of the bending of the fingers about their fixed ends` and by reason of the movement of the armature about the flexible hinge strip 22%. Continued movement of the armature next causes the bridge 29 to strike against the finger portion 27 with a hammer blow and break thgrl circuit between the Contact. and the fixed Contact B0 giving a quick and definite rupture of the circuit. 'Further movement next causes the bridge 29 to strike aga-.inst the finger 28 with a hammer blow and quickly and forcibly breaks the circuit connection between the contacts 26 .and 31. Vil-hen the armature is released by the magnet the con tact 2G first engages the fixed contact 31, the finger 2S 'being forced inwardly from engagement with lflic bridge, 29. After the engagement of contact 26 with its fixed contact-` the Contact 25 engages its fixed contact 30, the finger 27 being Vforced from ew gagement with the underside of the bridge ing and closing mpvementathe movable com.

ta'cts are causedfto slide over the fixed .con-

tacts which keepst'lie contact surfaces 'in a smooth andj polished condition, which lassists in tlielnaking and breaking Voffthe contacts being cer,tain.and. definite andi assists in naamw avoiding their deterioration by roughening or pitting of their surfaces. Furthermore, the break-ing of tho circuit connection :it-the contacts is by n quick hammer blow action in the manner above described which rcducos objectionable aiming-arid arcing cilci te' to a minimum.

The series coil 9 is in circuit between the dynamo armature 2 end battcnyll Whenfthc contact 15 engages the contact L7., one ter-- minal of the armature bei-ng in electric eonnection with the 4pole-pieces andcore ofthe magnet sothat when theiconteet -lengegee the contact 17, the current 'passies iro-n1 the left-hand -nia-gnet pole through ithe portion-s making up the arn'laiture 12 to `the linger Vl-1 and Contact 15, then to 1fixed Contact 17 throughthe seriescoil fthrough the-battery 4 and then .back to the ,other terminal ofthe dynamo ernia-ture. In circuit :with the Storage battery are any desired trenelating `1evices, suoli as incztndescent electric lamps .32, electric horn 33, ignition coiils 34;, starting motor 35, etc., all connected in parallel with each, other ecrossthe sirpply mains.

The shunt coil 8 is connected in shunt across the terminals of the dynaiino :armature Q, the circuit beinfr represented 'in Fig. 2 :Le extending from the upper tern'iinal of the dynamo armature to the end plates @and core ofthe umg-net, thence through the shunt coi-l 8 [to the other terminal of the :armature The shunt field winding 3 iof the dynamo is also connected in shunt across the armature terminals with a resistance 36 in series therewith, the circuit extending from the u-pper tern'iinal of the dynamo armature to 'the magnet end pieces and core, then through ythe resistance 36 end field Winding 3 to the other terminal of the dynan-io armature. Between the reeistaince 36 amd Athe field winding 3 n coirinection at 37 is shown extending to the fixed contact 30; and troni an intermediate point of the 4resistance a ooi'inection is sinon-'n as extending to the fixed contact .31.

lVhen the armature 22 is attracted ahy the margin all of the resistir-nee 36 is plaiced in eerice with the shunt field Winding Vacroee the a rinature tern'iinzils. lrV-hen the armature 22 is releesed and connection fir-st made between contacte 26 and 3], as above described, the

`r ight-hand section of rcsistai'ice 36 is shortc reu ted. The subsequent cloning of contacts Q5 `and 30 causes the remainder of the resistancc 3.6 to bes]1ort-circuited- Then the arma ture 32 is attracted, the reverse action takes l'ilnce, the breaking of the circuit between the contacts and 30 inserting the leftwha-nd portion oitthe recietance 36 in .seriele with. the field Winding, followed by the insertion of the remiainifn portion of the resistance in series with t e lield Winding. With other conditions ixed, the amount of sparking at the contacts 25 and 3() when they ere separated to the lefohand portion et ro siatunoewill be'epproniimetolyiprolpbrtfihn ebletorthe: aneuntf of the `-ineerted .o unie rcsnton,but afteiweuch resietenccis once inserted in series with theifieldithe en; cresof the circ/,ui t, fwliicl'i include ,-'tlie -field windingand theleft-hundfportionof -rceietimce 86, is considerably reduced, which would permit thcfright-hendg )ort-ion (if-thc resistance lic-- inglimtde consi 4 fir-ab'ly higher with the einneainount of -spwrltingas exists when the left liend tport-ion 4ofth e -rcsistai'ice iis inserted. In practice it ie found that the second etep of resistance inserted can bceouerztl tinie-.-'l the arnount of resistance inserted in. lthe iii-st step with .the seme sparkin' on their frespective contacte; but when tiesecond `step inserted ismade much larger than the first step, it .is essentiel that the steps of resistance shall be inserted in their proper order,`

and this "is positively assured by the above described construction,

Assun'iirig that'the dynamo is being driven by the engine 1er other source of power, at a speed such as to cause the voltage enerated by the dynamo armature to approac norequal that of the Storage haittery 4:, the current through the Vshunter `volte-ge Winding 8 will he such as .to cause the armature 12 to be a.ttgl-acted .and the circuit closed between the contacts 1.5 and 17 as above described, which connects Vthe ycharging dynaimo to the circuit withithe oeil l9 1n series. Atuthe Vtime of closing the charging circuit .the excitation ofthe .controlling magnet is not sufcient to attract thefermatnre 22 with the result thaitJ the resistance V-36 xis short-ci-rcuited givi f a strong eldfexcitationfof the rdynemo. llflhe voltage generated :by tl-Ie ,dynemo armature by Vreaeon of ti-isstrong field continues to increaseresufltng in egned-ually increesing charging our-rent. passing to the battery from the 4dyintuno armature through the series coil 9. The mafgmetomotive force of this coil being additive to that of the voltage coil 8, 'the magnetization of the controlling magnet graduallgy increases until the armature 22 ie attracted phicinigig` the `resistance-36 inseries withl thefield windin 'Bfby steps in the manner above. described. g'l`he yresistance 36 isfso highly proportioned' that its insertion in the circuitoausee the dynamo Voltage andfcurrent delivered'by its* armature toibo reducedto such an amount that the attractive force exerted bythe controlling m net upon theenueture 22 is insuioient to4 old the armature against the force of the spring 18" which results' in the resistance 36 being shortaircuited by .steps and in a. pronounced strengthening -of .the current tbxfeughithe :field win ing of the dynamo. The. .voltage ,willy .then rapidiy rise ege-in causing increase of'y the charging curneht throughthe series coil 9 which in turn resuits in the attractiono the armature- 92 maithein'sertien ,etape off-ithofmsimn the total current delivered by t results in the armature 22 being given avibratory movement and causing a fluctuating current to dow from the dynamo armature which fluctuating current integrates to a substantially steady current.

When the vibratory contacts 25, 26 shortcircuit the high resistance asv above 'ein` plained, the voltage of the dynamo rapidly' builds up, but although this rise in voltage is extremelyl rapid, there is a" smooth, gradual rise in voltage and not such an abrupt or instantaneous one as occurs by cutting out a resistance'in series with va def vice across a constant `voltage circuit and in' the absence of inductive effect'. This rapid smooth rise in voltage at the dynamo brushes causes a rapid but smooth increase in tlie currentthrough the work circuit and through the series coil 9. Thisv current will continue to increase until the magnetic pull upon the armature 22 separates the contacts 25, 26, successively from the-'fixed contacts by the sliding and hammer blow quick ac` tion 'above' described. The resulting introduction "of the resistance in the field` circuit instantly prevent'sjthe dynamo' Avoltage from increasing any further and it begins to rapidly fall, as well as the current in the work circuit passing through the series coil 9, although this rapid fall yof current 'is sa gradual, smooth vreductionfof current. If not, arrested, the voltage of the Vdynamo would be so reduced as to cause current from the`b''attery to iiow backward vin the circuit to the dynamo armaturei This would causeJ the current in the series coil 9y to `oppose the effect of the shunt coil 8 and thereby cause the instantaneous open-in of the main circuit by the armature 12. gBut'before su'ch a condition is reached, the current through the series 'coil 9 hin its'fall from its maximum va'lne reachessuch'a' reduced value that lthe spring '1-8 overpowers the magnetic 'force exerted upon the armature22l and shortcircuits the 'resistance 36 as above described. This checks the fall of voltage' of the dynamo andthe fall of current in thework circuit and again'causes the voltageof the dynamo-and current ,delivered thereby to rapidly and smoothly buildup until the magnetic force 'agai'nfforcibly andquickly separates the contacts-25,26 f ro'nrtlre fixed contacts` by a hammer'blowaction, as above stated, this action being constantly repeated.

The short-circuitin ior cutting outo'f the'v resistance 36 causes t e current-inthe `series coil 9 toriise' rapidly until the resistance coni trolling fcontacts are; separated. This is" due to the proportion/of the field winding and resistance 36 and also due to the fact that the ohmic resistance in the circuit including the dynamo armature and the battery i-s eXL treniely loW, a comparatively small increase in the Voltage of the dynamo making a large change in current through the battery and series coil .9. But even a large change in the current through the :battery does not materially affect the voltage across the battery termin-als and therefore upon the lamps or other translating devices, because the internal resist-ance of the battery is so low. that the increase of voltage due to the current passing through the low battery resistance is very low compared with the normal counter volts of the battery and the counter volts in the battery are substantially .independent of the current through the battery. It is practically impossible for the resistance controlling contacts to stick or freeze as it is sometimes called. If they should remain closed, the magnetic force tending to pull the contacts open, will rise many times the normal force needed to overcome the springl 18 and the current through the Series Winding 8 would continue to rise until the contacts were forcibly separated. Moreover, the sliding action of the contacts and the lrannner blow action of the armature very greatly assists the controller in properly performing itsv function continuously even under very severe conditions of operation.

It Will be understood that the armature 12 servesas an automatic protective switch, insuring that the dynamo will be connected in circuit withv the vbatter-y only when the dynamo i-'oltage is sufficiently high and that if from any cause the dynamo voltage becomes abnormally reduced or a, reversed curren-t should How from .the battery to the dynamo through the series Winding 9, the magnetization of the controlling magnet is reduced to such an extent that the spring 18 overcomes the magnetic attraction of the armature-and breaks the charging circuit with a quick hammer blow action in the mamier above described. The chargin circuit can not again be closed until the vo tage of the armature has risen suiiiciently high.

While the controller is above described as having a series and shunt Winding and is adapted to make the armature circuit and control the eld circuit of a shunt machine, it will be understood that this invention is applicable to regulators and dynamos of other types, andv to the regulation and control of electricity in various ways and to various forms of cOntrOlIingsyStemS.

Having thus described my invention, What I'declareas new and desire to :secure by Letters Patent of the United States is :`-n f 1. In an electric regulator, an electromagnet,.a pivoted membermovcd 'by saidmag# net, a plurality of contacts yieldably sup'- 'ported on said member, a plurality of corresponding fixed contacts, and means for causing said yield-ably mounted contacts first to move slidably across the fixed contacts and then by a hammer blow vby said member out of engagement with said stationary contacts 1n succession.

2. In an electric regulator, an. electromagnet, a pivoted l'nember moved by said magnet, a plurality of contacts yieldarbly supported on Said member, a plurality of corresponding ixed contacts, and means for causing said yieldably mounted contacts to move out of engagement with said stationary contacts in succession and for Separating the contacts by a hammer blow.

3. In an electric regulator, an electromagnet, a fixed. contact, a pivoted armature, a movable contact and a member carrying tbe same mounted on said armature, the mount ing .of said member on said armature comprising means to constrain the movement relative of the contact carried thereby to a direction oblique to the direction of movement of the armature, and means for the -flrmature to separate the movable contact from the fixed contact vby a hammer' blow.

4. In an electric regulator, an electromagnet, a fixed contact, a pivoted armature, a movable contact and a member carrying the same mounted on said armature, the mounting of said member on said 1armature comprlsing means to constrain the relative movement of the contact carried thereby to a direction oblique to the direction of movement of the armature, and means for the armature to actuate the movable contact by a hammer blow.

In an electric regulator, an electromagnet, a fixed contact, a pivoted armature, a movable contact and a member carrying the same mounted on said armature, the mounting of said member' on said armature comprising means to constrain the relative movenient of the contact carried thereby to a direction oblique to the direction of movement of the armature, and means for the armature to engage the movable contact with the fixed contact by a hammer blow.

6. In an electric regulator, an electromagnet, a fixed contact, `a pivoted armature, a movable contact and a member carrying the same mounted on said armature, the mounting of said member on said armature com` prising means to constrain the relative movement of the contact carried thereby to a direction oblique to the direction of movement of the armature, and means for the armature to separate the movable contact from thefixed contact by a hammer blow and to engage the movable contact with the fixed contact by a hammer blow.

In testimony Wliereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

CAROLYN G. LEONARD, Adm'imstmtrim of the estate of H a'rv'g/ Ward Leonard, deceased.

Witnesses:

LEONARD KEBLER, ALLAN R. CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained 1o`r iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. G. 

